Delaware Debates 2024

A group of men and women gathered inside the Delaware Debates studio, standing behind the red white and blue desk and in front of a sign with the Delaware Debates logo.
Delaware Debates moderators Ralph Begleiter and Casey Nyman (center) gather with the rest of the team to celebrate the completion of another successful production.

The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication and Delaware Public Media hosted three debates in 2024, featuring candidates for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and Delaware Governor.

The U.S. Senate and U.S. House debates were held on October 16, 2024, in Mitchell Hall, a 635-seat theater on the University of Delaware’s main campus, before a live audience.
The Delaware Governor’s debate took place on October 17, 2024, in Mitchell Hall. It was live-streamed and made available for delayed streaming, but no live audience was present.

Ralph Begleiter, the founding director of the Center for Political Communication and a former CNN journalist, returned to the University of Delaware to moderate with Tom Byrne, Delaware Public Media News Director; Casey Nyman, a UD senior majoring in Media Communication and minoring in Journalism; and Sarah Petrowich, the State Politics Reporter for Delaware Public Media.

Delaware Public Media, with assistance from the Center for Political Communication, also produced a series of “Candidate Conversations” for broadcast and online access. These interviews included additional races of interest beyond the three featured in Delaware Debates. All interviews were made available on the DPM main Election 2024 page​.​

The University of Delaware and Delaware Public Media have hosted debates since 2010.​

Watch Delaware Debates 2024 Recordings

Learn more about Delaware Debates

People inside an auditorium with a college student holding a laptop interviewing a political candidate.
A University of Delaware student interviews Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride (Democrat), candidate for U.S. House of Representatives.

About the Center for Political Communication

The University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communication is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary initiative that is committed to the emerging field of political communication.

The CPC supports collaborative, interdisciplinary teams of social scientists, who examine issues related to voting, civil rights and liberties, media effects, and intergroup relations.

The CPC’s events and programs inspire public participation in politics, engaging the next generation of public service leaders, in the United States and abroad.

University of Delaware students expand their knowledge about political communication by minoring in political communication as undergraduates.

The CPC supports University of Delaware students and UD departments who conduct their own initiatives to support political communication, especially research and public events.

Images by Evan Krape. Program recorded and produced by University Media Services.